It is apparent from a study of history that the earliest forms of Satanism were in fact fabrications by various groups of Christians. Many of the erroneous beliefs about Satanists still believed today can be traced Medieval and Renaissance books such as Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch's Hammer) (1486) by Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger.[1]

The Church of Satan was founded by Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997), author of The Satanic Bible (1969). In that book, LaVey argued that religions such as Christianity rejected the physical world; he was attempting to create a religion which uplifted it.

Other books written by LaVey on the subject include The Compleat Witch (1971), The Satanic Rituals (1972), The Devil's Notebook (1992), and Satan Speaks! (1998). LaVey appointed Blanche Barton command of the church, and she assumed the role when he died in 1997.